Chapter Summaries

Wang Yi took over after his teammates struggled to score, hitting back-to-back threes before drawing the Lakers’ defense and finishing a spectacular one-handed alley-oop dunk. His performance left the Kings and Lakers stunned, and Coach Walton became convinced that Wang Yi was a Maxed-out character.

• Wang Yi told his teammates to focus on defense while he took charge of scoring.
• The Kings’ other players missed their shots as the Lakers scored on fast breaks and cut the lead to seven.
• Wang Yi hit two consecutive three-pointers, bringing his total to nine and prompting James to call for a double-team.
• James, Bazemore, and Westbrook converged on Wang Yi, allowing Hield to drive toward the basket and draw the Lakers’ interior defenders.
• Hield sent a high pass toward the middle, and Wang Yi caught it one-handed in midair before gliding forward and dunking.
• The Lakers players and Kings bench stared in amazement, while Coach Walton became convinced Wang Yi was a Maxed-out character.

Wang Yi’s exhausted Kings fell behind as Westbrook and Anthony sparked the Lakers’ comeback. After activating the Intermediate Peak Westbrook Experience Card, Wang Yi raced past the Lakers’ defenders and scored a twisting layup, silencing the crowd.

• Wang Yi kept scoring against the Lakers’ box-and-one defense, but the effort drained his stamina.
• Westbrook scored nine straight points and added five assists while Anthony made three consecutive three-pointers, cutting the Kings’ lead to three.
• During the timeout, Wang Yi saw that his discouraged teammates needed him to lead by example, so he activated the Intermediate Peak Westbrook Experience Card.
• Wang Yi took Hield’s inbound pass, accelerated past Westbrook, James, and Anthony, then banked in a layup between Little Jordan and Brow.

Wang Yi repeatedly launched solo fast breaks against the Lakers, but their Big Four worked together and built a commanding lead. With James and Anthony resting late in the third quarter, Wang Yi insisted on staying in despite his exhaustion.

• Wang Yi stunned everyone by outrunning Westbrook on a one-man fast break and dunking against the Lakers.
• After the Lakers scored, Wang Yi raced downcourt again, beat Jordan, and finished with a powerful dunk.
• Wang Yi followed with another solo fast break, getting past four defenders and dunking as the arena fell silent.
• Wang Yi kept attacking in transition, but his stamina faded while the Lakers' Big Four found their rhythm and pushed the lead to thirteen points.
• With James and Anthony on the bench, Walton considered taking Wang Yi out, but Wang Yi insisted on staying in to help close the gap.

Wang Yi relentlessly attacked the Lakers in the third quarter, nearly erasing the Kings’ 13-point deficit despite being targeted by the Box1 defense. He entered the fourth quarter exhausted, with 54 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, while the Kings needed his teammates to contribute if they hoped to beat the Lakers.

• Wang Yi drove into the paint repeatedly after the Lakers’ Box1 defense disrupted his three-point shooting, scoring baskets and drawing fouls.
• Wang Yi’s effort helped the Kings cut the Lakers’ lead to four points by the end of the third quarter.
• Wang Yi lay on the floor during the break to recover, while commentators, fans, and his family watched with concern.
• Yang Yi announced that Wang Yi had recorded 54 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, including 12 three-pointers, through three quarters.
• Yang Yi and the other commentators said the Kings’ young players needed to find their courage and make shots in the fourth quarter.

Wang Yi pushed through exhaustion to keep the Kings in the game against the Lakers, but the Lakers’ Big Four pulled ahead. He dove into the stands to save a loose ball and came away with blood streaming from his forehead.

• Wang Yi refused to sit out the fourth quarter and opened it by making his thirteenth three-pointer, tying the game and moving within one shot of the NBA single-game record.
• Wang Yi scored repeatedly as the Lakers struggled, helping the Kings take a five-point lead.
• Vogel returned Westbrook and Thick Eyebrows to the floor, and the Lakers’ Big Four quickly built a nine-point lead.
• Wang Yi knocked the ball loose from Little Jordan, then dove into the stands to save it and struck his forehead on a seat.
• The medical staff hurried to Wang Yi as fans and Kings players reacted to his injury.

After Wang Yi’s relentless effort inspired the Kings, Hield and Bagley began hitting three-pointers against the Lakers’ Box1 defense. With five minutes remaining, the Kings had cut the lead to six points.

• The Kings players regretted holding back, and Barnes urged them to fight alongside Wang Yi for the rest of the game.
• The team doctor treated Wang Yi’s minor wound, and the Lakers resumed play with Anthony hitting a corner three to extend their lead to 12.
• Wang Yi made his 14th three-pointer, tying his personal single-game record, while Anthony answered with a dunk for the Lakers.
• Hield hit three consecutive open threes, prompting Vogel to order the Lakers to guard him beyond the arc.
• When James contested Hield, Hield passed to Bagley, who made a three and cut the Lakers’ lead to six with five minutes left.

Hield and Bagley found their range, and Wang Yi led the Kings’ comeback with scoring and assists against the Lakers. With two minutes left, he neared a historic 60-20-20 triple-double, then drew a foul from James while making a three-pointer that cut the Lakers’ lead.

• Hield and Bagley hit threes, prompting Vogel to switch the Lakers from Box-and-one to man-to-man defense.
• Wang Yi used Holmes’s screen to pass around Westbrook and Little Jordan, setting up Holmes for a dunk; after Little Jordan left the game, Wang Yi assisted Barnes on a three that cut the lead to five.
• Vogel called a timeout and instructed the Lakers to switch on defense, while the Kings focused on attacking; Wang Yi added five assists in seven fourth-quarter minutes and collected rebounds.
• With two minutes left, Wang Yi had 65 points, 18 rebounds, 20 assists, four blocks, and three steals, while fans hoped he would reach 60-20-20 and break the single-game three-point record.
• After James extended the Lakers’ lead to eight, Wang Yi drew James into a missed block attempt and made a three-pointer through contact, earning a chance at a three-point play.

Wang Yi broke the NBA single-game three-point record, then missed a free throw but grabbed his own rebound for a putback dunk that brought him to 69 points, 19 rebounds, and 20 assists. With the Kings still trailing late, James missed a layup, and Wang Yi’s fans urged him to secure the rebound as Thick Eyebrows and Bagley reached for it.

• Wang Yi hit a logo three while drawing a foul from James, setting the NBA single-game record with 15 three-pointers and reaching 68 points.
• Wang Yi missed his free throw, then leaped over Bagley and Thick Eyebrows to grab the rebound and dunk it, bringing his totals to 69 points, 19 rebounds, and 20 assists.
• Wang Yi led the Kings back on defense with 43 seconds left and his team down by two.
• James drove past Barnes and attempted a layup, but the ball bounced off the rim after Wang Yi pulled back to avoid goaltending.
• Thick Eyebrows and Bagley reached for the rebound as Wang Yi’s fans shouted for him to get it.

After James missed a crucial layup and neither team could secure the rebound immediately, the Kings got possession with 16 seconds left. Wang Yi chose a three-point attempt and urged Luke Walton to put rookie Danny in, while Vogel prepared the Lakers to focus their defense on Wang Yi.

• James missed a crucial layup, and several players tipped the rebound before Holmes secured it for the Kings.
• During a timeout, Wang Yi chose to go for three rather than risk overtime.
• Wang Yi recommended putting Danny in, explaining that the shy rookie was fearless when given a chance to shoot.
• Luke Walton sent Danny in after Danny agreed to give it his best and Holmes assured him he would not be blamed for the choice.
• Vogel told the Lakers to load up on the three-point line and guard Wang Yi closely because he expected Wang Yi to take the final shot.

With 15 seconds left, Danny hit a go-ahead three after Wang Yi passed to him, but he couldn’t stop James from making a buzzer-beating three that gave the Lakers a 135–133 win. The referees were still reviewing the final play.

• Wang Yi drove past Westbrook, drew four defenders, and passed to the wide-open Danny, who made the crucial corner three for the Kings.
• The Lakers called timeout and prepared a final possession with three seconds remaining.
• James used a screen from Thick Eyebrows to get free for a three, but Danny left his assignment and blocked the shot.
• James recovered the ball and launched another three as time expired; it went in, putting the Lakers ahead 135–133.
• The Lakers celebrated their apparent win while the referees reviewed the final second.

The Kings defeated the Lakers 133–132 after officials ruled that James released his last-second shot after time expired, while Wang Yi finished with an extraordinary 70-point triple-double. Wang Yi celebrated with former teammates and told reporters he intended to win several All-Star events.

• The referees reviewed James's final shot and ruled that the lights came on before the ball left his fingertips, giving the Kings a 133–132 victory.
• The Kings players and coaches piled onto Danny in celebration, while Wang Yi's final line was 70 points, 19 rebounds, 21 assists, five steals, and four blocks.
• Pelinka left the arena regretting that Wang Yi was no longer on the Lakers, and Jenny Bass regretted trading him.
• James embraced Wang Yi and praised him, and Wang Yi also hugged former teammates Thick Eyebrows and Tucker before speaking with Westbrook and Anthony.
• Wang Yi told Valentin that revenge had driven his performance and criticized reporters for spreading rumors about his relationships.
• Wang Yi said he aimed to win the Three-Point King, Dunk King, Skills Challenge, and All-Star Game MVP titles.

At the Kings’ press conference, Wang Yi and coach Walton explained that Wang Yi had suggested putting Danny in for the crucial shot. Danny’s nervous answers revealed his teammates’ kindness and his belief that Wang Yi secretly lost bets to help him.

• Lakers coach Vogel praised Wang Yi and predicted the Kings would keep surprising people in the playoffs.
• Wang Yi welcomed a Chinese reporter who stood to show respect, then answered reporters’ questions with ease.
• A reporter asked Walton whether he had drawn up the play for Danny’s crucial three-pointer, and Walton said Wang Yi had suggested putting Danny in.
• Danny clarified that he had not asked to play and credited Wang Yi for the idea.
• When a reporter suggested Danny was being mistreated, Danny defended his teammates and said Wang Yi pretended to lose practice bets to help him financially and spare his pride.

After Danny survived his first press conference, Wang Yi and the Kings returned to Sacramento from their road trip. The NBA reviewed the footage and corrected Wang Yi's stats to 70 points, 20 rebounds, and 21 assists, while Hield headed out for a late-night outing that would put his life at risk.

• Danny answered the reporters' questions, and Wang Yi teased him before encouraging him about facing future press conferences.
• The Kings boarded a bus to the airport after their seven-game road trip, and Mitchell announced that the NBA had credited Wang Yi with a missed rebound.
• The NBA's review confirmed that Wang Yi had tipped the rebound to Hield, bringing his final total to 70 points, 20 rebounds, and 21 assists.
• James called Wang Yi to offer him wine, but Wang Yi declined because he was already traveling to the airport.
• The team landed in Sacramento, and Hield invited Wang Yi to get food before finding a female companion for a night out.

Wang Yi witnessed two gunmen attack Hield and his companion after a staged collision, then used a toy rifle to scare them off. Hield survived with a leg wound and called Wang Yi “Boss” for the first time.

• Hield picked up a female companion and drove toward a nightclub while Wang Yi followed in his BYD Tang.
• A pickup truck swerved into Hield’s car, flipping it onto its side, and two men emerged and shot at him.
• Wang Yi found the toy ARG15 rifle hidden beneath his passenger seat and shouted at the gunmen to stop.
• Wang Yi fired the rifle at the pickup, convincing the two men it was automatic and driving them into the darkness.
• Wang Yi reached Hield, who said he had been shot in the leg and thanked him as “Boss.”

Wang Yi saved Hield and his companion from two gunmen, then carried the Kings through Hield’s month-long absence as they surged to third place in the West. His scoring earned him a third consecutive Western Conference Player of the Month award, making him one of the league’s hottest stars.

• Wang Yi and Hield rescued Hield’s companion, and police later arrested the two shooters, who had mistaken Hield for someone else.
• Hield’s thigh injury sidelined him for a month, leaving Wang Yi to shoulder more of the Kings’ scoring burden.
• Wang Yi averaged 44.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists as the Kings went 11–2 in December and climbed to third in the West.
• Wang Yi won Western Conference Player of the Month for a third consecutive time in January, a first in Chinese history.

Wang Yi won the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Contest, leaving him one event away from his boast of sweeping the All-Star competitions. Before the Slam Dunk Contest, he tried to unsettle his rivals with a taunt.

• The NBA named Wang Yi the Western Conference Player of the Month for the third straight time and invited him to compete in several All-Star events.
• Wang Yi won the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Contest with ease.
• Zubac and Joseph plotted to make a name for themselves by defeating Wang Yi in the Slam Dunk Contest.
• Wang Yi noticed the contestants' hostile looks and decided to provoke them.
• Wang Yi told the other Slam Dunk Contest competitors they should be grateful to watch the event from the court without paying.

Wang Yi introduced Jack Maxwell to the Chinese piece “Overture of the Little Knife Society” and convinced him to use it as his entrance music for the Slam Dunk Contest. As Wang Yi took the court, the crowd heard the unfamiliar BGM, and Chinese-descendant fans recognized it with excitement.

• Zubac and Joseph complained about Wang Yi and Aaron Gordon, then rallied two other young contestants to compete against the veterans.
• Wang Yi visited DJ Jack Maxwell and played him “Overture of the Little Knife Society.”
• Jack enthusiastically agreed to make the piece Wang Yi’s entrance BGM.
• Wang Yi reached the Player Tunnel, spotted Nicole in his jersey, and saw the star-studded panel of judges.
• Jack introduced the contestants and announced Wang Yi last, then played the new BGM as Chinese-descendant fans cheered in recognition.

Wang Yi used a White Jordan experience card to open the Slam Dunk Contest with an unprecedented dunk using his foot, earning a perfect score. The other competitors were left wondering how they could follow his performance.

• Wang Yi checked in and received a White Jordan experience card with a 20-minute time limit.
• Wang Yi had Mitchell place a ball beside the rim, then ran in from the opposite corner and kicked it through the hoop with his right foot.
• The crowd and judges reacted in disbelief, and all five judges gave Wang Yi 10 points for a total of 50.
• Joseph was stunned by Wang Yi's opening dunk and wondered how he could compete after it.

Wang Yi stunned the crowd and his fellow competitors by dunking over an entire car in the first round of the Slam Dunk Contest. The chapter ended with viewers around the world reacting in disbelief.

• Wang Yi's foot dunk earned him 50 points, while Joseph and Aaron Gordon each scored 45 with their first dunks.
• Wang Yi had Hield drive a yellow Bumblebee onto the court and positioned it lengthwise in the key.
• Wang Yi ran up from behind the car, leaped over its roof, and dunked over the hood while gripping the rim.
• The arena crowd, courtside stars, judges, White Jordan, and viewers watching broadcasts reacted with astonishment.
• A chubby employee yelled in his office, then told his manager that his wife had given birth to their second child prematurely.

Wang Yi’s two perfect-scoring dunks overwhelmed the field in the Slam Dunk Contest preliminaries. Aaron Gordon and Zubac withdrew before the Second Round, leaving Wang Yi to continue alone.

• Wang Yi earned a perfect 50 for his second dunk and advanced with 100 points, while Aaron Gordon and Zubac advanced with 90 and 87 points.
• Aaron Gordon announced that he was withdrawing, saying Wang Yi’s dunks were the best he had ever seen and had convinced him to give up.
• Zubac lost the rest of his confidence and withdrew from the contest as well.
• Michael Jordan announced Zubac’s withdrawal to the stunned crowd, while Wang Yi prepared to continue.